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First candidate announces plans to run in Olds byelection

Olds Institute executive director sees no conflict, should he win
WebNewMitchThomsonNov019-1
Olds Institute executive director Mitch Thomson is the first person to officially announce plans to run in the Jan. 20 civic byelection to replace former councillor Wade Bearchell. Doug Collie/MVP Staff

OLDS — Olds Institute executive director Mitch Thomson is the first person to officially announce plans to run in the Jan. 20 Olds council byelection.

Thomson made the announcement Nov. 18. As of Nov. 19, no one else had submitted nomination forms.

The byelection was called Oct. 28 to replace former councillor Wade Bearchell, who resigned on Oct. 22, citing personal reasons.

It’s not the first time Thomson, 45, has dipped his toe in political waters.

In 2004, while living in Red Deer, he was among 20 candidates who ran for city council but was unsuccessful.

In 2008, he and current Red Deer-Mountain View MP Earl Dreeshen squared off for the federal Conservative Party nomination.

Thomson moved to Olds in 2009. He says since then, he’s been involved "in lots of stuff, but nothing political.”

“I did moderate an all candidates forum for the PC nomination in 2009-10, but I haven’t been associated with any of the parties or the boards or anything like that,” he said.

Thomson said he decided to run for council now because some of his children are older and he feels he can devote the necessary time and energy to the job.

He and his wife Jennifer have fostered more than 30 children over the past 15 years or so. They’re currently raising four children ranging in age from 8 to 19.

“We have a very eclectic family,” he said. “We’ve had the opportunity to grow our family in a way that’s much different from most people.”

Thomson said he’s attracted to municipal politics.

“It’s a different kind of politics at the municipal level, right? You have the ability to weigh in on topics that make a difference for people in their daily life, so I’ve always been interested.”

Thomson believes his experience in business — which included running five funeral homes at one point — as well as his experience fostering entrepreneurs and non-profit entities via the Olds Institute has given him a broad understanding of the community and its needs.

“I think I’ve had opportunity in several places in my life to work with people in difficult spaces. Whether they’re dealing with addictions, whether they’re marginalized in some way. Whether they’ve just dealt with a loss,” he said.

“I think that ability to communicate and talk with people and understand, I think that will be a benefit to me and to council.

“On the other side, in my space, I get the opportunity to work with entrepreneurs and volunteers and non-profits. Again, I feel it gives me a sense of what they’re going through and what challenges and opportunities exist.”

He noted through his businesses, he has gained other experience by being on various boards and agencies – including chairing the Alberta Funeral Service Association, a post which involved lobbying government.

“There’s not a church I haven’t been into or been involved with. There’s not a cultural group that I haven’t gained some experience of working with and at the end of the day, we’re all people who want similar things, right?”

He’s also been involved with the Rotary Club for about 20 years and is a past Masonic Lodge master.

Although he’s the Olds Institute executive director, Thompson doesn’t see a conflict of interest, should he be elected to town council. Neither do town officials, who say he is not in a conflict of interest because he is not a town employee.

Olds Institute is an organization founded and backed by five partners: Town of Olds, Mountain View County, Olds College, Olds Regional Exhibition and Olds & District Chamber of Commerce.

“The institute is completely stand-alone, has its own board of directors,” he said.

Thomson said after discussing with his family the idea of running for council, he asked a local lawyer whether there’d be a conflict. He also discussed the idea with the Olds Institute board of directors.

However, should there be a perception of conflict on any given matter, Thomson said he’d be willing to “step away.”

Thomson said no particular issue or group of issues galvanized him to run, although he is concerned about the current downturn in the economy and believes care has to be taken in how the town grows to be sure that growth is sustainable.

“I think Olds will continue to grow but we need to make sure that there are jobs for them. We need to ensure that we do have quality services,” he said.

“But the municipality can’t do it all, right? So how do we advocate for partnerships – you know, whether they’re with provincial or federal (governments) or non-profits or whatnot?”

Thomson said the key is to listen to what residents want.

 “There’s a reason we have two ears and two eyes and only one mouth, and I think it’s important that we have conversations, but we do more listening, right?

I think engagement and listening are really big,” he said.

"I’m not the loudest spoken, the most brash spoken person in the community and I think that’s a good thing.”

It’ll be community safety, it’ll be smart growth, it’ll be collaboration"

Thomson is confident he can find the time to be a town councillor, despite the fact that sometimes – for example during budget discussion – it can be very time-consuming.

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